-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The Syrian government resigned Tuesday amid an unusual wave of unrest that has roiled the nation , state TV reported .

President Bashar al-Assad accepted the resignations Tuesday , the same day that tens of thousands of Syrians poured onto the streets of Damascus to demonstrate in favor of the government .

A new government should be named within hours , said Reem Haddad , a spokeswoman for the Syrian Information Ministry .

Meanwhile , the president is expected to address the nation in a speech before the People 's Assembly at 11 a.m. -LRB- 5 a.m. ET -RRB- Wednesday , state TV said .

The state-run SANA news agency reported the speech would `` reassure the Syrian people . ''

The pro-government rally on Tuesday followed violent clashes between protesters and security forces in the cities of Daraa and Latakia in recent days . At least 37 people have been killed since last week , according to the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights .

Syria is the latest in a string of Arabic-speaking nations beset with discontent over economic and human rights issues . Syria 's discontent is centered in Daraa , a southern city in the impoverished country 's agricultural region , where security forces and anti-government protesters have sporadically clashed for nearly two weeks .

Many demonstrators at the pro-government rally held posters of the president . Others waved Syrian flags , while some painted their faces and chests in national colors .

Crowds filled the square in front of the Central Bank and jammed all roads leading to it , aerial pictures on state TV showed .

There were also pro-government rallies in the cities of Aleppo , Hama and Hasaka , the broadcaster said .

CNN 's Yousuf Basil contributed to this report

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NEW : The president is expected to speak on Wednesday

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A new government will be named shortly , a government spokeswoman says

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The government has resigned , state TV reports

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At least 37 people have been killed in demonstrations since last week , the U.N. says